<h1>How To Convert VHS To DVD With A DVD Recorder</h1>By Cole Figgins</center><br><br><p align="center"><blockquote>   When preserving your favorite movies or memories, the standard used to be VHS video tapes. But with the advancement of DVD technology, the advantages of DVDs proved to outweigh those of VCR tapes. Video tapes can wear out over time, becoming bent, damaged or dirty. The cassette casings are vulnerable to damage as well, rendering the tape inside useless. Storage is easier with DVDs since they take up less space than videos. Not to mention the quality of picture and sound is higher on DVDs. <br> <br>So the question becomes, how do I convert my video tapes to DVDs in order to preserve them for my future enjoyment? There are several options. First, you could use a VHS to DVD conversion service that will do the transfer for you. However, if you have a great deal of videos to convert, over time you'll save money by doing the conversions yourself in the convenience of your home. <br> <br>The computer savvy among us will use their computer to transfer their videos to DVD. It requires copying the video to a digital file on the computer using an analog converter. The file gets compressed into MPEG-2 format before being burned onto a DVD. This method takes some time, but it does allow you to make changes to the video, like special effects or music, before you burn it to the DVD. Depending on the burning software that you use, you might be able to add a menu or other special features. However, the process can be quite slow because you have to transfer the file twice: first from the video to the computer and then again from the computer to the DVD. <br> <br>So in order to save time and effort, you can copy the tapes to a DVD without the use of a computer. There are two ways to do this: <br> <br>* The first involves buying a DVD recorder that allows input from another source. You simply connect your VCR by cable to the DVD recorder. Then while the video plays, it is also recording. If you choose this option, consider purchasing a video processor called a proc amp or a time base corrector. These devices stabilize and improve the quality of the analog video as it is fed to the DVD recorder and can greatly improve the resulting images that you get on the DVD. <br> <br>* The second option is to purchase a combination DVD/VCR recorder. It does the same thing as the previous option without needing to connect any cables. If you are planning to copy a lot of videos, it is worth your time and effort to find out what kind of processing the machine does to the analog signal from the video tape before it converts it to the digital signal that gets recorded in DVD format. You want the best possible result that you can get. <br> <br>If you do the conversion yourself, always follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure you capture the video appropriately. Make sure that you have cleaned the heads of the VCR between copying videos. Old tapes carry a lot of dust or other particles that can clog up your VCR. And since you are copying directly from the video to the DVD, whatever picture quality issues you have with the video will appear on the DVD. Understand that if you have videos which are recorded at SLP (6 hours of video on a tape) you will not get the same quality of recording onto a DVD as if the video was recorded at SP (2 hours of video on a tape). If you find the quality is not acceptable for you, consider changing your method of converting videos to DVD. However, for many people, the time and energy saved in converting the videos on their own will outweigh any concerns over video quality. <br> <br>About the Author: Cole Figgins reviews DVD recorders brands and models at <a href="http://www.DVDrecorders.ws" title="http://www.DVDrecorders.ws" target="_blank">http://www.DVDrecorders.ws</a> - a DVD recorders shopping guide where you can learn more about DVD formats and find news, tips and tricks about DVD recorders and TiVos. <br> <br>Source: <a href="http://www.top5tv.com">www..top5tv.com</a> </p> </center> </blockquote>

<center> <h1>DVD And DVD Players</h1>By Michael Sanford</center><br><br><p align="center"><blockquote>   DVD Player - This is a generic term, since there are DVD-Audio, DVD-ROM, DVD-Video players--while DVD-Recordable and DVD-RAM drives are not yet ready for the market. DVD-Video has complex hardware and firmware requirements on the player, and the DVD Player Reference Model specifies the capabilities for a DVD-compliant player for consumer market--outlining the standard and optional sets of features. DVD-Video displays to a TV monitor, but DVD-ROM players will have the hardware (boards) to play DVD-Video and DVD-Audio titles. But, DVD-Video copy protection and regional code issues further complicated and delayed the marketing of players, precluding the implementation of some otherwise acceptable software options, or external devices. It is expected that newer players will implement the required copy protection and regional codes. <br> <br>DVD is an optical disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality. DVDs resemble compact discs: their physical dimensions are the same—12cm or the mini 8cm—but they are encoded in a different format and at a much higher density. DVDs contain a file system, called UDF, which is an extension of the ISO 9660 Standard used for CD-ROMs. <br> <br>DVDs are made from a 0.6 mm thick disc of polycarbonate plastic coated with a much thinner (reflective) aluminum layer. Two such discs are glued together to form a 1.2 mm double-sided disc. The substrates are half as thick as a CD to make it possible to use a lens with a higher numerical aperture and therefore use smaller pits and narrower tracks. <br> <br>A single-layer DVD can store 4.7 Gbyte, which is around seven times as much a standard CD-ROM. By employing a red laser at 650 nm (was 780 nm) wavelength and a numerical aperture of 0.6 (was 0.45), the read-out resolution is increased by a factor 1.65. This holds for two dimensions, so that the actual physical data density increases by a factor of 3.5. DVD uses a more efficient coding method in the physical layer. CD's error correction, CIRC, is replaced by a powerful Reed-Solomon product code, RS-PC; Eight-to-Fourteen Modulation (EFM) is replaced by a more efficient version, EFMPlus, which has the same characteristics as classic EFM. The CD sub code is removed. As a result, the DVD format is 47 percent more efficient with respect to CD-ROM, which uses a 'third' error correction layer. <br> <br>A DVD can contain: <br> <br>DVD-Video (containing movies (video and sound)) <br>DVD-Audio (containing high-definition sound) <br>DVD-Data (containing data) <br> <br>The disc medium can be: <br> <br>DVD-ROM (read only, manufactured by a press) <br>DVD-R/RW (R=Recordable once, RW = Rewritable) <br>DVD-RAM (random access rewritable) <br>DVD+R/RW (R=Recordable once, RW = Rewritable) <br>DVD-R DL (double layer) <br>DVD+R DL (double layer) <br> <br>Two DVDs with different bottom sides. <br> <br>The disc may have one or two sides, and one or two layers of data per side; the number of sides and layers determines the disc capacity. <br> <br>There are several competing DVD Formats: <br> <br>DVD-ROM: They are pressed similarly to CDs. The reflective surface is silver or gold colored. They can be single-sided/single-layered, single-sided/double-layered, double-sided/single-layered, or double-sided/double-layered. As of 2004, new double-sided discs have become increasingly rare. <br> <br>DVD-R for Authoring: Special-purpose DVD-Rs used to record DVD masters, which can then be duplicated to pressed DVDs by a duplication plant. They require a special DVD-R recorder, and are not often used nowadays since many duplicators can now accept ordinary DVD-R masters. <br> <br>DVD-R discs (strictly DVD-R for General) can record up to 4.7 GB in a similar fashion to a CD-R disc. Once recorded and finalized it can be played by most <br> <br>DVD-ROM players. This format is supported by the DVD Forum. <br> <br>DVD-RW discs can record up to 4.7 GB in a similar fashion to a CD-RW drive. Supported by the DVD Forum. <br> <br>DVD-R DL: Derivate of DVD-R that uses double-layer recordable discs to store up to 8.5 GB of data. <br> <br>DVD-RAM: (current specification is version 2.1) require a special unit to play 4.7GB or 9.4GB recorded discs (DVD-RAM disc are typically housed in a cartridge). 2.6GB discs can be removed from their caddy and used in DVD-ROM drives. Top capacity is 9.4GB (4.7GB/side). Supported by the DVD Forum. <br> <br>DVD+R: Can record up to 4.7 GB single-layered/single-sided DVD+R disc, at up to 16x speed. Like DVD-R you can record only once. Supported by the DVD+RW Alliance. <br> <br>DVD+RW: Can record up to 4.7 GB at up to 16x speed. Since it is rewritable it can be overwritten several times. It does not need special "pre-pits" or finalization to be played in a DVD player. Supported by the DVD+RW Alliance. <br> <br>DVD+R DL: Derivate of DVD+R that uses double-layer recordable discs to store up to 8.5 GB of data. Supported by the DVD+RW Alliance. <br> <br>DVD-D is a new self-destructing disposable DVD format. Like the EZ-D, it is sold in an airtight package, and begins to destroy itself by oxidation after several hours. <br> <br>DVD Plus combines both DVD and CD technologies by providing the CD layer and a DVD layer. <br> <br>About the Author: For more information on DVD players please visit the DVD players resource center at <a href="http://www.dvd-players-resources.info" target="_blank">http://www.dvd-players-resources.info</a> <br>Source: <a href="http://www.top5tv.com">www.top5tv.com</a> </p> </center> </blockquote>